# Semrush vs Clearscope: which do AI models recommend for SEO, October 2026

GTM AI Recommendation Index, October 2026 Edition, SEO and content optimization platforms. Ten of fourteen models named Semrush first on the direct prompt; two named Clearscope. Page: https://gtm-ai-index.com/marketing/seo-content-optimization/semrush-vs-clearscope/

| | First-choice share | Rank | Negative rate | Labels | Models naming it |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Semrush | 21% | #1 of 12 | 21% | 58 | 14 of 14 |
| Clearscope | 14% | #3 of 12 | 17% | 48 | 14 of 14 |

## The direct prompt, model by model

- Gemini 3.5 Flash: both first (first choices: Clearscope, Semrush) (alternatives: Ahrefs, MarketMuse, Surfer SEO)
- Claude Haiku 4.5: semrush first (first choices: Semrush) (alternatives: Ahrefs, Moz, Surfer SEO, Writesonic)
- Perplexity Sonar: semrush first (first choices: Semrush) (alternatives: HubSpot Marketing Hub, MarketMuse, Surfer SEO)
- Grok 4.20: semrush first (first choices: Semrush) (alternatives: Ahrefs, Clearscope, MarketMuse, SE Ranking, Surfer SEO)
- Mistral Small: semrush first (first choices: Ahrefs, Semrush) (alternatives: Clearscope, Google Keyword Planner, Google Search Console, HubSpot Marketing Hub, Screaming Frog SEO Spider, Surfer SEO)
- DeepSeek V4 Flash: semrush first (first choices: Semrush) (alternatives: Ahrefs, Clearscope, SE Ranking, Surfer SEO)
- Qwen 3.7 Flash: semrush first (first choices: Semrush) (alternatives: Sight AI, Surfer SEO)
- GLM 4.7 FlashX: semrush first (first choices: Semrush) (alternatives: Ahrefs, Clearscope, Surfer SEO)
- MiniMax M2.5: semrush first (first choices: Semrush) (alternatives: Conductor, SE Ranking, Sight AI)
- GPT-6 Luna: semrush first (first choices: Semrush) (alternatives: Conductor)
- Kimi K2: clearscope first (first choices: Clearscope) (alternatives: Frase, Semrush, Surfer SEO)
- GPT-5.4 mini: neither first, one named (first choices: Conductor) (alternatives: Clearscope, Semrush)
- Muse Glimmer 30B: neither first, one named (first choices: Surfer SEO) (alternatives: Clearscope, MarketMuse)
- Llama 4 Maverick: neither named (first choices: Sight AI)

## What the models said about Semrush

- "you cannot afford to waste money on bloated enterprise platforms like Semrush, Ahrefs, or Clearscope, which easily run $100 to over $150 per month" (Gemini 3.5 Flash, budget prompt, soft negative)
- ""Semrush is the market's most comprehensive all-in-one SEO platform." ... If you need backlink intelligence and full marketing reporting, start with Semrush or Ahrefs." (Muse Glimmer 30B, comparative prompt, first choice)
- "the pairing of Semrush and Clearscope remains the most reliable, high-performing combination for mid-market B2B organizations" (Gemini 3.5 Flash, direct prompt, first choice)
- "For most mid-market B2B companies, Semrush offers the best balance of features, pricing, and procurement readiness." (MiniMax M2.5, direct prompt, first choice)

## What the models said about Clearscope

- "tools such as Surfer, Clearscope, or similar editors | Their term suggestions and scores can help with coverage, but they're recommendations—not proof" (GPT-6 Luna, negative prompt, soft negative)
- "Content Optimization Suites (Frase, Surfer, Clearscope) ... Use these to check your word count limits, not as a writing template." (Qwen 3.7 Flash, negative prompt, soft negative)
- "bloated enterprise platforms like Semrush, Ahrefs, or Clearscope, which easily run $100 to over $150 per month" (Gemini 3.5 Flash, budget prompt, soft negative)
- "Clearscope: An enterprise content optimization platform that uses AI to grade content for topical depth and comprehensiveness" (Llama 4 Maverick, paraphrase prompt, first choice)
- "I recommend considering Clearscope or Scalenut as your SEO content optimization tool." (Mistral Small, paraphrase prompt, first choice)
- "the pairing of Semrush and Clearscope remains the most reliable, high-performing combination" (Gemini 3.5 Flash, direct prompt, first choice)

Share is the count of first choices across the direct, paraphrase, budget and scale prompts over all fourteen models, for a mid-market B2B company; rank is within the category. Comparisons are drawn for the top eight products in each category. Published under CC BY 4.0; the output is the models' output, and nothing here is a recommendation by the index.